THE BALTIC FLEET INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 258, 4 November 1904, Page 2

THE BALTIC FLEET INQUIRY.

NEGOTIATIONS NOT RUNNING SO EASILY. ANXIETY IN ENGLAND. I'UitUC ALARM AT KIUNS OK NAVAL AND MILITARY ACTIVITY. A RUSSIAN APPOINTMENT, CONSTITUTION OF INQUIRY COMMISSION. LONDON, Nov. 2. In accordance with Article 32 of tho Hague Convention each party appoints two commissi oners, and the laue.- choose a fifth. Russia's first commissioner is Admiral Kaynakolf, who is described as a man of ri|)e judgment and great tuct, "SOMEONE HAI) BLUNDERED." WHAT OPPOSITE PARTIES ARE STRIVING FOR. LONDON, Nov. 2. The Daily Express and Daily News publish optimistic refo.enccs to the situation. The latter believes there is growing evidence that somebody in the squadron blundered, and the incident was accidental through negligence and' gross culpability. The Morning Post thinks tihalt the detention of part of the fleet implied something of on admission of wrong:, and sailing under the sarno admiral, and with Mr Halfour's approval, removes the only element of reparation in the whole list* of terms. Mr Halfour's chief preoccupation was to avoid force, while the Czar's was to got his fleet out of danger.

A MISTAKEN ADMIRAL. FOUNDS HIS ROMANTIC' STORY ON HEARSAY. LONDON, Nov. 2. The Daiily Telegraph suggests thait Admiral Rohjeshonski's romancing is based on hearsay. lie 'ls known to Englishmen as an honourable sailor, and if personally responsible would insist on stating his own ease in person. Tile Telegraph infuses to believe that the Czar will not fulfil his pledges, but admits that every day's delay in redeeming them increases the tension. ENGLAND'S PREPARATIONS. NAVAL AND MILITARY ACTIVITY GENERAL.

LONDON, Nov. 2. The Daily Mail's Gibraltar correspondent says that Sir George White, the Governor, summoned the general* of ibrlgade anil commanding officers the instant mobilisation was decided on, and tiho oiider was carried out with precision and rapidity. The bulk of the Channel Fleet is ut Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean l/ivisicn is in instant readiness to sail. It includes 17 battleships, 12 cruisers, and a flotilla of destroyers to the number of fifty. Lord Charles Boresford convened a meeting of the commanders of the fleet aboard the Caesar. The Admiralty colliers proceeding to Malta were interrupted and brought back to Gibraltar for mobilisation in continuance of last week's preparations. A cruisbr and four dcstroyei'B sailed westward from Gibraltar. Admiral. Walker's squadron (consisting of the Bacchante, Lancaster, Suffolk, Doris, Hermes, Endymion, Theseus) has quitted Arosa Bay, in Spain, aa»d is following! the Russians. Admiral Rohjeshonski is expected at Tangier'sThe warship Irresistible and five destroyers have arrived at the Canaries. An urgent order hus been given to the Woolwich Arsenal for tiho manufacture of 500 7.Sin. armour-piercing projectiles for the new battleship Triumph. The latter's arrival at Portland!completes the Home Fleet. The warships patrolling the Straits include thm Boomerang and Ringvxrooina, both well-known on the Australian- station. Two companies of the Warwickshire Regiment a»'e on duty in the Commercial Niole, Gibraltar. Waggons with ammunition are frequently crossing! the streets. All the quick-firing batteries have been manned, and the searchlight stations are strongly guarded. A company of the Garrison Artillery ordered to Sierra Leone remains at Gibraltar for the present. (Received Nov. 4, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 8. Reuter's Gibraltar correspondent says the mobilisation of troops and fleets has ended.

IN THE OFFICIAL WORLD. THE KING AND HIS MINISTERS IN CONFERENCE. LONDON, Nov. 2. livtci'chamijjes or communications between the different Government officers and with St. Petersburg wore riaquont yesterday, but it is semiofficially stated that there is no sufficient reason for supposing a serious hitch in the negotiations. The King ga\ie an audience to Count Benckentiorfi (Russian Ambassador) lasting twenty minutes. Count BcmckenilorfT h'ad an -hour and ia half's interview with Count Lnmstiorir (Russian Foreign Minister) on Monday night, revisiting him yesterday afternoon. Mr Balfour and Loricl Lansdowne have been in eonfenencp most of t ill' day. Lord Sel'foome (First Lord of the Admiralty), Admiral Sir John Fisher (Naval Commander-in-Chief), ami Captain Prime Louisi of Batteniburg (Director of line Naval Intelligence Department) were present. The Right Hon. 11. 0. Arnold-Fors-ter (Secretary for War) visited Lord Lansrdowne.

(Received Nov. 4, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 3. Mr Balfour presided at tlio Cabinet for one and a half hours.

M. Cambon's (French Minister) interview with Count BentekemJorflf and Lord Lansdowne indicate a continuance of pacific efforts. Count Benckomlorfl has issued a statement.

(Received Nov. 4, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, Nov.' 3. &ir Charles I-lurdingo submitted to Count Lamsdor/T a proposal that four delates should represent Great Bntain, Russia, France, and the IJiutod States, and Meat these should «h°°M 1 'l'' lo commission' ahoukl also sit m PariH. /Kan™ EdHW a "r f th <- Cza ' havo expressed the" satisfaction a t the prospect of a Satisfactory Settlement German. newspapers are sarcastic, and declare that Mr Balfour, after an ineffectual attempt at bluff is accepting instructions for the fiiture guidance of the Baltic Fleet. The only thing' obtainable for peace was to beat a hasty retreat. He had obtained practically nothing

ALARM IN LONDON. ROIIJESHENSKI'S departure DISAPPOINTING. m .. LONDON, Nov. 2. n J '° t P ul)l,c 19 , ulannod at the aprZLl ™ ln th ° An offlcinl communikjtio, while allaying the present exoiitement, is considered disappointing, o win,j espceially to the non-detention of Admiral Rohjeshenski, who should be th-9 chief witness, London was nervous /or several sours on Tuesday evening owitur to ft jpisre#Wi«f of th« tflrms of Bwic

sift's assurance ami surprise at the mobilisation of ' 1 1,1 Hk-I and the Gibraltar garrison, creating uii impression of impending rupture. Thdre way also u feeling uf irritation on Admiral Kahjeshenski's departure. The Fail Mall and St. .1 nines' (luzette devluie that. the departure possibly compiles with tho letter of tin? agreement, ljut it do«s not accord with public expectations, aiwl is not consistent with the requirements of justice.

RUSSIAN OFFICERS AT VIGO. THE FOUR WITNESSES FROM THE BALTIC FLEET. LONDON, Nov. 2. The officers detained to testily •are Captain l'lado, belonging to the flagship, Captain Otto, ueutenant Ellis, and a senior officer whose name is at present withheld. (Received Nov. 8, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 3. It is stated in Ministerial circles that the recall of only four of the olMcers was accepted in, fulfilment of a condition upon which the fleet was allowed to leave Vigo. This was duo to the fact tluit Russia was upon the defensive in regard to the North Sea affair, and that it wa-s not incumbent upon Britain, a» the plaintiff, to dictate the number oi Russian witnesses or the character of their evidence. The tribunal must judge whether Russia had a weak case or inadequate testimony. Britain was satisfied tliat her own case was srtrong and amply supported. Moreover, after Russia's selection of responsible officers, Britadin would not .have been justified in indefinitely detaining the fleet and hindering its mission in the war, in re- | gaixl to which Britain must caivfuJh "mintum her neutrality.

FOREIGN ANXIETY. NEITHER PARTY HAD DECLARED ITSELF. (Received Nov. 3, 0.9 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 2. Japanese newspaper are surprised at England's Injudicious alacrity in accepting Russia's assurances as opportune means of avoiding a dangerous situation. American newspaper® ask what guarantees England possesses that the Russian oilicers concerned in the outrage will be punished. Germain newspapers express anxiety that npither Russia nor Britain has signified its readiness to unconditionally accept tlio arbitrament of the itaternationial Tribunal. PUNISHMENT OF OFFICERS. STUDENTS APPEAL TO CZAR ' FOR PEACE. LONDON, Nov. 2. Tim St. Petersburg newspaper Novoe Vremya says tihat whatever the r,_«ult of the inquiry may be there cun be no question of punishing officers. It adds that the Admiral may have fired on British warships watching the fleet. • Eighteen hundred students have appealed to tlu> Czar to take uction in interests of peace maintenance. EMBARRASSMENT AVOIDED.

RUSSIANS NEARLY FIRING ON A FRENCH TORPEDO BOAT. LONDON, Nov. 2. A French torpedo boat, during a fog, approached some of tho Russian transports and destroyera. The latter were about to lire, wlien the French flag was hoisted, und an embarossing situation Was avoided.

THE INQUEST AT HULL. JURY'S VERDICT AND UNIQUE RIDER. (Received Nov. 3, 10.4-7 p.m.) LONDON, Nov, 8. Tho verdict of the Hull jury at the inquest on George Smith and William Leggott, who wero killed while fishing on board the trawler Crone, oil which thb Board of Trade marks wore exhibited and the regulation lights burning, was that they were killed by shots fired withbut warning or provocation froui certain Russian warships, distant about a quarter of a mile. The following rider was addod : "The jury on this occasion—probably one of tho most momentous in the history of the Empire—record their of the efforts made by the Governments, interested to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion on the matter, which is, wo feel, without parallel in the hissory of tho world."

AN APPRECIATION. TIIE STATESMANSHIP OF THOSE IK AUTHORITY. LONDON, Nov. 8. Right Hon. Sir Henry Fowler, M.P., speaking at Wolverhampton, expressed his personal and the universal appreciation aind admiration felt in tlie United Kingdom at the oourag*!, dignity, firmness, and statesmanship with which the Government had defended the country's honour and secured for it peace with the world.;

A STRONG IjNDICTMENT. AN ADMIRAL'S DESCRIPTION OF RUSSIA'S NAVY. (Received Nov. 3, 11,55 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 8. A report iby Admiral ToliucMn, commanding the Black Sea Fleet, ha 9 created a painful impression in Rubsia. He assorts that the officers aio witlUoutiintenest in thaili- profession, and that inconipetenco is everywhere. Appalling muddles are frequent, signuls are misunderstood and disqbeywl, and many officers are ignorant of the regulations. There is an extraordinary lack of discipline in tho fleot, which is certain to be destroyed when it facta tho oncmy.

DRUNKEN SEA WARRIORS. DISGRACEFUL SCENES ON THE FLEET. (Received Nov. 4, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 3. A lieutenant cm board ono of the Baltic Fleet ships writes to his father, and in tlio course of his letter says that most of tho crews officers and men aUks—were Intoxicated. They knew they wero out of their course. An alwm was given that the flagship was aground, thus causing the rearmost vessels to colI'de. In tho midst of the coftfusion the Sqluadroai encountered a supposed torpedo flotilla, at which they fired. Later at mght a rupid exchango of shorts took place between two Russian vessels. 'llm tsmalla.shell used revealed the UusHlarr make or ammunition., thus showing it was their own v««ols they were lighting. Several men wero wounded. Everyone, from the Admiral downwards, was demoralised, and without heart or hope.

VAKIOIJS ITEMS. The Wight Honourable Hertoest Gladstone, M.P., sixsaking at Newcastle, said tlie whole of the liberal Party congratulated the Government on upholding the country's just claims and committing the matter to an international tribunal. Russia Iws indemnified the German owners of tho Sonntag for the losses of the trawler and her catch of fish. Captain Thomson, Chief Inspector of Explosives, examined four of the trawlers in Hull, and found thut they had been struck by explosive shells and bullMs from small bore guns. Tho shells and bullets bore distinctive marks of Russian manufacture.

A MESSAGE OP THANKS. (Per Pre* Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. The Premier in the House this morning stated the Governor had received a telegram from the British Government thanking Parliament for the sympathy expressed on behalf of the gufterer* , by ib» North S«* dlmuittr.